Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-17

y
| that little room next to yours in the
north wing; and when he comes to his
senses. tell him an easy lie of some sort
and then let him go. don't propose
| to do him any harm. and only wish to
delay certain operations of his a few
hours. Will you &c it, or must give
| your memory another jogP"
EN- do it!' said jim, with logged
sui lenness.
very good;" and drawing out his
pocket-book Ralph produced crisp,
new note. Here's twenty to bind the
bargain; and as soon as know the Job
is done, you will get the rest
Ralph left the tavern, mounted his
horse, and dashed quickly out of sight
1t was near midnight when Oswald
| MARROW dismounted at his home, having
been actively engaged ever since part
| ing with his betrothed in the early part
of the evening. Leading his horse to
| the stable. he saw him comfortably pro-
vided for, and then repaired To the
| house; and five minutes later a man
| gliding from behind a large tree a few
yards away, approached the stable
door. Producing a dark lantern and a
| key, he unlocked the door and went in.
He was there some time; then silently
emerging, hurried away with an ex-
| preston of exultation on his dark, sin
| lister face.
The hour appointed for the wedding
lad arrived, and up in her room Con-
stance Howard stood, a vision of rare
loveliness, in her lustrous bridal robe,
with the pearls that had been her
lovers wedding gift, encircling her
neck and arms and shining in her hair,
which rippled back from her fair brow,
and was wound in one classic coil at
the back of her shapely head. A superb
bouquet, which had come that morning,
| with Ralph Washburn's card attached,
stood upon the dressing table, ready for
the suspicious moment.
There, Conw exclaimed one of the
bridesmaids, stepping back to survey
her work. Your appearance is simply
perfect. Mr.. NARROW is lucky man,
And, by the way, is it not time he was
heree The wedding is appointed by the
| special license for seven, and it must be
nearly that now"
1T is eight minutes past, remarked
a companion. CHANGING at her watch.
He may be below. waiting permission
to come up. Julia" she continued.
stepping to the door and addressing a
servant who was passing, ''go down
and see if Mr. NARROW has arrived"
The girl obeyed, returning in a few
moments.
1.-The clergyman has come. Miss Sew
ard, but Mr.. NARROW is not there yet"
He has been delayed, probably. "said
Constance. hearing the report and try
ing TO speak calmly, although her heart
sank with a sudden misgiying. He
will be here soon."
But the minutes passed by, until
twenty more were gone, and the bride
groom had not arrived. Then horse,
covered with foam, was refined in at the
gate. and, springing TO the ground, the
rider came quickly up the steps and
rang the bell.
lis Mr.. NARROW here?" he asked as
the door opened.
NO, sir" replied the servant.
'Ihen take ME to Miss Howard i'm
mediatcly. must see her alone"
And n few minutes later Ralph WASH
burn, pale and agitated, stood before
the anxious bride.
..Consance-Miss Howard-oh! how
can | tell your he exclaimed, in husky
tones.
Tell me whatP' gasped the terrified
girl. My good friend, in mercy, let
me know the worst! Is he dead?"
Dead" repeated Ralph, with a burst
of indignant feeling. THAT would be
welcome news, compared with what [
bring"
The face of the bride-eleet turned
whittier than her robe; then controlling
herself by an almost superhuman effort,
she said. in painfully altered voice:
Tell me all-everythingr
about three o'clock this afternoon"
said Ralph, drawing Il small envelope
from his pocket. ''this letter was left at
my office during my absence, by some
unknown person. 1t contains these
strange words:
If Rapn Washblirn would learn some
thing to his advantage. let him be at the -
railway station at niae O'clock sharp, this
morning. "A Well-Wisher'
Il have always distrusted anony-
nous letters, and scarcely ever deemed
them worthy of notice; but something
prompted me to give heed to this. /
knew by hard riding | could get there
and return in time for the wedding.
Reaching the station Il few minutes be-
fore nine-the hour, as | afterwards
learned, at which. tram would be en-
route for town. was walking up and
down the platform. with my cap pulled
down. and my coat-coliar turned up 10
keep out the cold, thus effectually con-
cealing my face, when close carriage
drove up, and a lady and gentleman
alighted. | caught distinct glance